About this pro

My first full time job as a professional photographer was in 1976. I have been at this for a while! I'd have to say, my experience makes my work stand out. I love doing website and graphic design for those who appreciate good graphics, photography, and video, while keeping things uncluttered and easy to navigate.
I love meeting new people and trying to figure out how I can help reach their goals, whether it's creating a website, designing a CD cover, or doing still photography or video.

23 years in business

3 employees

Services Offered

Photoshoot location

Photo studioOutdoorsHome

Reviews

5.0

5 reviews

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4

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Pam S.

Mike sets up all of the technological needs for our Discovering Alabama presentations and manages our websites. He is very knowledgeable and we love working with him on projects!

Jan 24, 2015

Jackson G.

Mike has taken video, still photos and even sat in on guitar a time or two with me, and I can not stress enough how professional, gifted, and friendly he is. His photos and video work are absolutely world-class, and he has always given a fair price for his excellent work. Understands the technology as well as the art of photography. Highly recommend! - Jackson Gibson, musician

Jan 20, 2015

Delacio S.

Mike did an excellent job filming and editing s show I ask him to record. He was very patient and understanding.!i would recommend mike to other project as well as do others for me

Jan 20, 2015

JK T.

I have worked with Mike McCracken on multiple occassions. Mike even did all of the photos plus graphic design for my CD. Not only is Mike a truly excellent photographer, he is very easy to work with & always has the best advise for the session. Mike is recognized throughout the "Blues Community" for his internationally acclaimed photo journalism & is fine guitar playing. He is the best I know & I would not hesitate to use Mike again for any of my professional photo needs.

Jan 5, 2015

Leeann W.

I have known Mike for some 35 years to be a passionate, adventurous photographer that has an exceptional eye for storytelling. His technical expertise is wide-ranging and he continually improves his skills and knowledge with any new assignment that he is presented with or invents. He listens to what you as the client needs and interprets this through his creative lens. You will love working with Mike.

Jan 2, 2015

Credentials

Background check completed

Photos and Videos

3 photos and 9 videos

FAQs

What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?

I Just Do it - that's how you get good at something.

How did you get started doing this type of work?

My grandmother gave me a nice little camera when I was about 14 years old. She asked me to be the "family photographer" at holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas. I was hooked on it ever since! I had a darkroom at home when I was in high school and printed my own photos. I was asked by the principal of my school to shoot for the year book and provided and unlimited supply of film. I always had that camera with me that my grandmother gave me, so people noticed that I loved photography and put me to work! Later on, when I was deciding about where to go to college and what to "focus" on... photography was the natural answer. In 1976, I was in my first year of college and working on a portfolio of work when I was offered a full time job at the local newspaper. I later worked at another larger newspaper in the state and won several "Best Photo of the Year" awards from Associated Press for my work. I left newspapers and became a freelancer and have added video, video editing, graphic design, and website design to my areas of expertise. I love doing all of the these things because I love to work in the VISUAL ARTS, no matter what tools I'm using, Over the years I've developed my sense of design and can apply it to any job I'm doing, whether designing a CD or book cover, or fitting visual elements into a small rectangle on a video or still camera... it's really all the same when you get down to it.

What types of customers have you worked with?

That varies all the time. Seems that I've always got a website job or two in progress. I get calls for all kinds of photography jobs like family portraits, environmental (on location) portraits - a lot of people like to get great photos of themselves working their day-to-day job so they can show their family and friends what they do all day. I've done about 20 book cover designs in the last year, I've done weddings, brochure work, and just about everything you can think of. I've videotaped a major festival at the University of Alabama recently, In the past I've done a video for the University of Alabama School of Law that was a "tour" of the Law School which showed the many activities that take place there. It was used to help bring in new students. For 12 years, I have been the technical advisor for the television show, Discovering Alabama, which has won several Emmy awards while I've been there. It has been shown on Alabama Public Television for the last 30 years. I have happy clients all over the country.